ETH AI Center Doctoral Fellowship 2027
The ETH AI Center in Zurich offers 8 to 12 paid doctoral fellowships in AI, with a salary from CHF 73,100 a year. Apply by 27 October 2026.
The ETH AI Center Doctoral Fellowship is a PhD program at ETH Zurich for interdisciplinary research on artificial intelligence. The center offers 8 to 12 doctoral positions for the 2027 intake. Start dates are flexible and usually in September.
Fellows are employed at the standard ETH doctoral rate. The salary is CHF 73,100 in the first year, CHF 78,300 in the second year and CHF 83,500 in the third year. Each fellow proposes their own project and is supervised by two professors from different fields, who carry equal weight. Fellows have their main office at the ETH AI Center and take part in retreats and symposia.
Applicants need a Master's degree in computer science, machine learning, statistics, physics, engineering, applied mathematics or a related field. The degree must be finished at least 3 months before the fellowship begins, and by June 2027 at the latest. Candidates must meet the general ETH Zurich doctoral admission rules and need enough English to discuss and write about their research.
In the form, candidates choose interest areas in AI foundations and in AI applications, and can name preferred mentors. The listed areas include agentic AI, LLMs, trustworthy AI, AI for medicine and open source LLMs such as Apertus. The center asks applicants to read its guidelines and FAQ first.
Applications go only through the online portal. Email or postal applications are not considered. The deadline is Tuesday 27 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a doctoral symposium on 1 and 2 February 2027, and offers are sent by the end of March 2027.
Quick answers
Do I need to contact a professor before applying?
No. The FAQ says it is not a requirement to contact faculty members before applying.
How many references do I need?
At least two references. A third one is optional. References from PhD students or classmates are not accepted.
Can Master's students apply?
Yes. Master's students are eligible, as long as they finish the degree at least 3 months before the fellowship starts.